Cowboys show resolve by fighting through huge amount of errors to outlast Eagles

Has everyone caught their breath, checked their blood pressure, and taken an EKG since this Cowboys-Eagles game ended?

Before today, there were so many things that you would think that this Cowboys team could not do and survive:

• Have Dak Prescott turn the ball over three times
• Have him throw over 50 times in a game
• Overcome 11 penalties for over 100 yards, seven on offense that cost 60 yards
• Lose Zack Martin for extended time and be functional
• Go 1-4 in the red zone and win

Yet, the Cowboys did all of this and escaped with a 29-23 win in overtime while effectively putting a stake in the heart of the Eagles 2018 NFC East chances. If anything, this Cowboys campaign will be remembered for the hole they dug and the resolve they showed getting out of it. From 3-5 with no pulse to 8-5 and in firm control of the NFC East, just how we drew it up, right?

Like a few other Cowboys games this season, this was a roller coaster ride from start to finish. Over the last five weeks, the Cowboys have pulled off some wild victories but none more important than this sweeping of last year’s champs.

How was this game close at all? I mean, look at these numbers...just how?

• Cowboys had 32 first downs to the Eagles 16
• Cowboys were 56% (10 for 19) on third down to Eagles 11% (1 for 9)
• Cowboys ran 93 plays to the Eagles 48...45 more plays?!
• Cowboys 576 total yards more than doubled the Eagles at 256 yards
• Dak Prescott’s 455 passing yards fell half-a-yard shy of doubling Carson Wentz’s numbers
• Dak went 42 of 54, completing 78% of his passes, 10% higher than Wentz
• Cowboys doubled time of possession, having the ball for over 45 minutes!
• Amari Cooper’s 217 yards receiving came 11 yards shy of the entire Eagles WR corp’s 228
• Cooper got 217 on 10 catches, it took 22 receptions by seven different Eagles receivers to reach 228

The Cowboys dominated this game but we know this team has a flair for theatrics. This game wasn’t pretty but the only thing that kept Philadelphia in it were the self-inflicted errors Dallas committed. Dak Prescott had one of his worst three quarters of football ever, but somehow followed it up with his best 25 minutes of his young career.

When the early games kicked off on Sunday, the Cowboys had an 81% chance of making the playoffs and a 73% chance of winning the NFC East. If the Cowboys lost to the Eagles, they would lose all the leverage dropping to 39% while giving Philly a clear path to the division title.

Sure, the Giants did Dallas a favor today beating Washington, as well as the Browns knocking off Carolina, but it was the Cowboys seizing the opportunity to earn this one. Losing the turnover battle 3-1, going 1 for 4 in the red zone, and losing over 100 yards in penalties are odds that almost no team can overcome. No matter how many times they tried to give this away, they overcame the self-inflicted harm. Again, from 3-5 and dead to rights to 8-5 with over a 99% chance to call themselves NFC East champs. Talk about overcoming the odds?!